Accessory clip for drafting instruments



June 27, 1967 R. A. NICHOLS 3,327,360

ACCESSORY CLIP FOR DRAFTING INSTRUMENTS Filed March 25, 1966 ROBERT A.NICHOLS ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,327,360 ACCESSORY CLIP FORDRAFTING INSTRUMENTS Robert A. Nichols, 11 Chapin St., Binghamton, N.Y.13905 Filed Mar. 25, 1966, Ser. No. 537,337 2 Claims. (Cl. 24-80) Thisinvention relates to drafting instruments and, more particularly, to anaccessory clip which may be attached to a straight edge or a triangle orany fiat drafting utensil of which both sides may be used in guiding thehand to follow a line.

In drafting work, triangles in various shapes are constantly in use,generally guided by a straight edge or another triangle. These devicesare usually made of flat sheet stock, either plastic or metal, and arecut to have certain fixed angular configurations.

It is customary to have these triangles most commonly cut at 45-45 and90 degree, and 60-30 and 90 degree configurations. For easier handlingthey usually have a cutout in the middle, either of the sameconfiguration as the outside or in a circular or elliptical form.Whichever type is used, a draftsman must turn a triangle from one sideto the other in order to utilize a particular angle in a requireddirection. Since both sides of a triangle are used, it must lay flat onthe drafting board in any position and there can be no projecting buttonor handle aflixed to any side. Consequently, there is no proper grippingsurface and often it is very unhandy for the draftsman to turn thetriangle from one side to the other. This is particularly true when inkis used in drawing the lines and a slight shifting would result insmearing the work.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide aprojecting surface for triangles of the above type or for any flatdrawing instrument which will enable manual lifting without in any wayinterfering with the use of any of the sides thereof. In the attainmentof this object, use is made of a simple gripping mechanism which may beattached to the rim at the inner side of the cutout in the triangle andwhich will exhibit a projecting surface for easy lifting in any positionwithout causing shifting of the triangle.

In essence, the invention comprises a clip made of a pair of juxtaposedplates joined at one end to form a narrow flange, the other end beingopen to slideably fit over the inner side of a triangle. The flangeaccommodates a loosely fitting stud terminating at each end in .adiskshaped member which extends vertically for the purpose of liftingwhenever a change of placement of the triangle is desired by the user.

It is a particular feature of the invention that the attached clip doesnot interfere with the fiat lying of the drafting instrument to which itis attached, irrespective of the position in which such instrument maybe used.

Other objects and features will be apparent from the followingdescription of the invention, pointed out in the appended claims andtaken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a conventional 45 triangle with accessory clipattached;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the accessory clip;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged prtial view in perspective showing theconstruction and placement of the projecting lifting member; and

FIG. 4 is a view in perspective of a modified form of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, it is seen from the view in FIG. 2 that theaccessory clip comprises a pair of plates 6 and 7 which are bent at anangle and joined in a narrow flange 9. The latter has an opening 10which slideably accommodates a stud 11 which terminates at each end in3,327,360 Patented June27, 1967 a disk-shaped member 12 and 12'. Theopening 10 is so dimensioned that the stud 11 fits so loosely that uponlifting of the assembly it will fall by its weight as shown in thepartial enlarged view in FIG. 3.

The plate members 6 and 7 are preferably of thin, resilient springstock, the distancce between them being so dimensioned as to be lessthan the thickness of the body of the triangle to which it is attachedso that, in expanding, it will firmly grip both sides thereof. The innerfaces may be knurled, as shown at 8, or have a coating of an elastomericsubstance to assure firm gripping action. One of the plate members, forexample 7, may be cut shorter than the plate member 6, for easiersliding over the body of the drafting instrument.

The modified form of the accessory shown in FIG. 4 is, in essence, adual clip. The plate members 6 and '7 are longer and are inturned atmidpoint and joined to form a base portion 9. In this manner theclamping members extend bilaterally and each end may be clipped overcorresponding sides of a triangle. The stud 11 is loosely fitted in asuitable opening in the base portion 9.

It is readily seen that the accessory clip may easily be slipped overany flat body having a thickness which will separate the plates 6 and 7so that these will tightly grip both surfaces. For example, as seen inFIG. 1, it may be slipped over the sides of a triangle at the innercutout, facing one of the 45 angles. Solidly placed in this position,when the triangle is lying on a flat surface, the top disk member 12will be protruding since its corresponding disk member 12' is lying flaton the support on which the triangle is placed. Consequently, the diskmember 12 can easily be grasped by the fingers of the user and theentire triangle lifted above the drawing board without any lateralmotion. Without the attachment of this accessory the only way the usercan lift the triangle is by gripping the outer edge and the inner edgewithin the cutout. Since such devices are of rather thin construction,there is little gripping surface for the fingers of the user. With theattachment of this accessory in place, however, there is no diflicultywhatsoever in gripping the projecting disk and thereby lifting thetriangle.

The modified form of the clip shown in FIG. 4 is attached to clampopposite sides of the triangle as seen in FIG. 1. This dual actionresults in a firmer hold and enables also the placing of the liftingdisk in the center of the triangle for better balance of the weightdistribution when lifted from the paper.

It is to be noted that the thickness of the disk 12 and 12' is sodimensioned that any one of these, combined with the thickness of theflange 8, presents a narrower dimension than the body thickness of thetriangle at the point where the disk 12 or 12 may touch the paper onwhich the triangle is placed.

It is also obvious that when the triangle is lifted and turned over thesame conditions will prevail, except that when in the first position thedisk 12 was on top, in the turned over position, the disk 12' will be ontop. In whatever position the triangle is placed, there is always aprojecting surface provided by one of the disks of the stud 11 of theclip for easy handling by the draftsman.

What is claimed is:

1. An accessory clip for drafting instruments, such as a straight edgeor triangle, providing a projecting surface to enable manual lifting,which comprises:

(a) a pair of in-turned juxtaposed plates joined at one end to form anarrow flange, the other end being open to form clamping members whichslideably fit over a desired side of the instrument,

(b) said plates being of flexible springy material for providing agripping force,

(c) said flange having walls defining an opening,

((1) a stud loosely fitting in said opening and terminating at each endin disk-shaped members,

(e) the combined thickness of said flange and any one of said membersbeing so dimensioned as to be narrower than the body thickness of saidinstruments, whereby said instrument is permitted to lay fiat on asurface when in use, one of said disk-shaped members resting on saidsurface and the other projecting above said surface for convenientlifting.

2. An accessory clip for drafting instruments in accordance with claim1, wherein said pair of juxtaposed plates are in-turned in the midpointand joined to form a base portion from which bilaterally extendopen-ended clamping members which slideably fit over opposite sides of atriangle, said stud loosely fitting in said base portion.

References Cited UNITED 10 WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

D. A. GRIFFIN, Assistant Examiner.

1. AN ACCESSORY CLIP FOR DRAFTING INSTRUMENTS, SUCH AS A STRAIGHT EDGEOR TRIANGLE, PROVIDING A PROJECTING SURFACE TO ENABLE MANUAL LIFTING,WHICH COMPRISES: (A) A PAIR OF IN-TURNED JUXTAPOSED PLATES JOINED AT ONEEND TO FORM A NARROW FLANGE, THE OTHER END BEING OPEN TO FORM CLAMPINGMEMBERS WHICH SLIDEABLY FIT OVER A DESIRED SIDE OF THE INSTRUMENT, (B)SAID PLATES BEING OF FLEXIBLE SPRINGY MATERIAL FOR PROVIDING A GRIPPINGFORCE, (C) SAID FLANGE HAVING WALLS DEFINING AN OPENING, (D) A STUDLOOSELY FITTING IN SAID OPENING AND TERMINATING AT EACH END INDISK-SHAPED MEMBERS,